Asner added: "The methods are very new, and do not exist in any other circle – scientific or other. We’ve built a revolutionary technology, matched it with our unique scientific and exploration approaches, and are coming up with new information that has been unavailable from the ground or from satellites."

The WWF says that the Amazon rainforest contains 1.4 billion acres of dense forest, or half of the planet’s remaining tropical forests. It holds 4,100 miles of river, and is the source of almost one-fifth of all free-flowing fresh water on Earth.

Asner adores the rainforest he maps, saying: "I’ve spent the bulk of my career in and above tropical forests, and this is definitely the most exciting time for my team and me. To say it is pure scientific exploration, of the kind that awakens the deepest sense of curiosity and desire to understand something new, is an understatement."